EXPECT plenty of batting fireworks from one-day international Michael Clarke and former Test star Mark Waugh at Gunnedah's Wolseley Park today.
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Six of the NSW Pura Cup State squad are in Gunnedah for an invitational benefit match between Gunnedah and Tamworth XIs.
Waugh captains the Gunnedah Invitational XI, which also contains fellow State squad members Matthew Phelps and Aaron Bird as well as NSW Country star Michael Gerits.
Clarke skippers a Tamworth side also including top order bat Greg Mail and wicketkeeper Nathan Pilon.
NSW Country Cricket executive officer John Sullivan said Clarke, in particular, was keen to notch a big score in the 40-over-a-side invitational benefit match.
"All the guys are keen and looking forward to this game," Sullivan said.
"I was talking to Michael about it and he's very keen to do well up there.
"And he has been batting fantastic in the nets at training.
"It is fantastic to have him and Mark and the other boys going up there.
"I just hope they get a few people to the game.
"It should be a good day.
"Clarkie is a great prospect, still only young but with the Test side being so strong he has to wait for his chance.
"He's got a great future.
"And it's also great to have someone like Mark (Waugh) coming back to the NSW side from the Test level.
"It can only benefit all our young guys.
"The chance to play with someone like Mark at State level is a great opportunity.
"And the benefit of that can be seen by what the NSW side did last year. They won the double.
"It's also great to be able to do something for Adam Riley as well.
"It should be a good game and the benefit dinner at the PCYC Club will be a big night with all the players there."
Today's game starts about 12.30 (weather permitting).
Waugh's Gunnedah side includes former Emu star Matthew Phelps.
Originally from Clunes (near Lismore), he has just moved from Manly to Sydney University club in Sydney.
Bird is an up-and-coming paceman from Taree who is now playing with Waugh's Bankstown club.
Gerits, who lived for a while in Gunnedah as a youngster, was the NSW Country Cricket player of the season last season.
He also topped the rungetting at the Australian Country Championships in Bundaberg, scoring 349 runs at 69.8 with a top score of 98.
With a number of withdrawals from the NSWC side this season he could be Country captain.
Talented young batsmen Tim Kensell and Adam Jones will be looking for early-season runs to push their Country prospects while Brendan Rixon, Blake Andren and Tom Groth are outstanding teenagers with big futures.
